Turkmen FM, EU's Borrell discuss cooperation, including in energy, at Brussels meeting
ASHGABAT. March 20 (Interfax) - Turkmen Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell met in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss a large spectrum of matters concerning their bilateral and multilateral cooperation, attaching special significance to strengthening ties between the EU and Central Asia, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said.
Among promising areas, the two focused on energy, transport, digitalization, education, and climate, it said.
Meredow and Borrell highlighted the importance of the existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as the EU-Turkmenistan Joint Committee, the Human Rights Dialogue, and the inter-parliamentary dialogue.
They exchanged opinions on aspects of regional security, and Meredow underscored the Turkmen government's efforts and initiatives along this track, based on the principles of its permanent neutrality status, it said.
Meredow and Borrell also addressed the organization of a new EU-Central Asia meeting at the level of foreign ministers in Turkmenistan in 2024.
During his visit to Brussels, Meredow also met with European Commission Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, and European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen. He also had negotiations with Tomasz Zdechovsky, chair of the European Parliament's delegations to the Central Asian countries and Mongolia.
During the meetings, the parties addressed aspects of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU in the economy, trade, humanitarian interaction, education, and science fields and discussed some initiatives in the green economy and climate action sectors, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said.
They discussed projects ongoing in Turkmenistan with the EU's support, praising their dynamism and prospects for continued cooperation, it said.